Food Archives - AskTheRav

Are the Chanterelle Mushrooms kosher? How are they to be checked for bugs?

Chanterelle Mushrooms are kosher. I am not familiar with a specific method to check these mushrooms for worms (which is very common in this type of mushrooms). It is…

Does distilled water need a Hechsher?

Water which is not flavored and not fortified does not require a Hechsher. #5274

לכאלה ששותים משקה ‘ג’ינג’ר אייל’ ו’פרסקה’ וכדומה ממשקאות שהם בהכשר ה”או-יו”. האם גם קוקה קולה הוא באותו רמת כשרות או שיש בו בעיה נוספת?

לדעת הרבה פוסקים, קוקה קולה באותה רמת כשרות כמו שאר המשקאות. מקורות: בנוגע לקולה הרב לנדא מבני ברק אומר שצריך הכשר מיוחד, עד כמה שידוע לי הבעיה שלו…

Does pure almond flour require a Hechsher?

No, unless it has added sensitive ingredients. #4652 This Q&A is brought to you in honor of Sara bas Leah Gittel and Daniel Yosef ben Leah Gittel …

Does plain sugar in a package need a Hechsher? How about coffee?

Plain sugar doesn’t need a Hechsher. Unflavored coffee beans or Instant coffee doesn’t need a Hechsher. Some are particular to always get even harmless raw ingredients with a Hechsher…

What products may one buy in a remote place, like India, without a Hechsher? Pasta? Rice? what about produce? like nuts or spices?

Pasta raw, without eggs or oil - Does not require certification. Quinoa, raw – Does not require certification. Rice, raw or parboiled, unseasoned - Does not require certification. Rice…

Do frozen fruit, like strawberries, blueberries or bananas need a Hechsher? What about frozen vegetables that their sole “ingredient” is the vegetable?

In general terms, frozen fruit or vegetables with no additives may be eaten without a Hechsher, provided they are not from Eretz Yisroel or China, and provided there is…

Is there any Hiddur in not using Hellman’s mayonnaise?

Some are concerned because they leave the eggs without their shell overnight. See here: https://asktherav.com/is-it-permissible-to-take-the-shells-off-of-eggs-before-shabbos-and-store-them-in-a-closed-box-to-be-eaten-on-shabbos/#.XNXpVyiX3Yw.link #3970

Is there any kosher issues about duck eggs?

No, since the duck is a kosher species. See question #2884.

יש לי 2 ברווזים לבנים, זכר ונקבה, הנקבה מטילה ביצה כמעט כל יום האם מותר לאכול את הביצים? האם הן כשרות? האם בהכרח ימצא בהם דם?

כלל הוא ש'היוצא מן הכשר כשר', ומכיון שהברווז כשר הביצים כשרים (שו''ע יו''ד סי' פו ס''א). לא בהכרח שנמצא דם, וברוב אין דם, אלא שצריך לבדקם לכתחילה.

A friend of mine dropped off food outside of my house as a present. In the bag it included cooked meat and chicken and was sitting on the doorstep for a while. Can everything inside the bag be eaten. Do I have to be חושש for בשר שנתעלם מן העין?

If there is a Tevi’as Ayin that it is the same meat or chicken that was sent, e.g. it is identifiable in the manner it was cut (you can verify…

May I buy packaged salmon from a non-Kosher fish store, without a Hechsher and not knowing what knife was used to cut it, with the intention of rinsing it before use?

One should not buy any fish from a non kosher store if the skin has been removed and you can not identify if it has scales (and is actually a…

I cracked two eggs, one after the other in the same cup and found a blood spot in one of the yolks. Since they were together, does that render both of them not Kosher? Do I throw out the whole thing or can I just remove the yolk with the spot?

If they are not fertilized eggs, just remove the yolk with the blood spot. See here for more information.

Can I eat food that was under someone’s seat on a flight and the person slept?

Yes. Sources: מטעמי ההיתר: אינו בגדר מטה שמיועד בעיקר לישיבה; השינה בגדר שינת עראי; המטה אינה ראוי׳ לביאה; האוכל אינו על הקרקע (אהל זרוק וכו׳); המקום מלכתחילה מיועד להניח…

I served platters of green peppers, onions, and lettuce by a meal with bagels and salads which also had Milchig (cream cheese and cheese). I requested not to use the same utensils as the Milchig with everything else, but I don’t think people were careful about it. Can I wash the vegetables and cook them together with hot Fleishigs? They were cut with a Pareve knife and I put oil and salt on the onions before leaving them overnight.

If you make sure to wash them well so that there is definitely no Milchigs whatsoever on the vegetables, then it is OK.

Do hard boiled eggs need to be checked?

Hard boiled eggs need not be checked. Sources: ברא״ש ע״ז ג, כט, דלא חיישינן לדם בביצים לפי שאינו מצוי, שאנו אוכלים ביצים צלויים ואין בודקים אם י״ב דם. וברא״ש…

I usually eat candies and drinks with an OU on it. I wanted to know if it is OK to also eat gushers, a product which includes in it ‘white grape juice concentrate’. Is there something we are more careful with, as Lubavitchers, regarding Stam Yeinom, that others (and other Hashgochas) are not?

There is no reason to be concerned about Stam Yeinom in this case. However, there is a non-Halachic Chumra of Reiyas Nochri that many Hechsherim are not concerned with, as…

Is one allowed to keep medicine and vitamins in the bathroom? And if not, if one put them there already, can they still be used?

It is permitted as it is not food. גם במאכלים לא מצאנו להדיא שאסור להכניס. והוא רק משום נקיות או רו״ר, ול״ש כבנדו״ד שעטופים ומכוסים. ובפרט בביהכ״ס שבזמננו. וכשהביהכ״ס משמש…

Our fish store just bought a fish that has scales and fins. The scales aren’t noticeable and the name of the fish is kingklip. Is this fish kosher or not?

There are those who permit it, but most Poskim maintain kingklip is Treif for many reasons. This is the position of Harav Elyashiv, Harav Shternbuch, the Eida Charedis, the OU,…

Regarding an onion cut with a Fleishig knife, can I have Milchigs before/after?

One may not eat or drink Milchig (dairy) products within six hours of eating meat. According to Halachah, if onions or other sharp foods are cut with a Fleishig (meat) knife, they…